Newcastle United carved an immediate return back to the top flight of English football, thanks to the way Rafael Benitez marshalled his troops throughout the season coupled with the way his men have responded to the scenario without damaging themselves after their demotion. With an automatic promotion already being confirmed, the Magpies are just one point behind Brighton & Hove Albion and are very much in the race to clinch the Championship silverware as well.
However, Benitez is accustomed to the animosity which the Premier League has on offer and would be keen to strengthen his squad once the curtains of the summer transfer window get lifted. The defence of the Geordies needs to be strengthened and bolstered to enable them in refraining from any sort of collapse when they clash against the elites next term and one of the latest reports have stated that the former Real Madrid boss is aiming to bring Celtic’s resolute youngster Jozo Simunovic to St. James’ Park in the summer.
Simunovic has attained a lot of attention this season owing to his string of notable performances under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers. Scottish Premiership has been a breeding ground for some of the finest defenders and the 23-year-old is just another testament to the same. Tall, strong and immensely powerful, he has all the ingredients to thrive with the Toons and the aerial abilities he offers must have caught Benitez’s eyes. So far this campaign, Simunovic has collected 22 appearances in the Scottish top tier and he has been one of the instrumental reasons for the rigidity of the Celts at the back.
Signed from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2015, the Croatia U21 has become a household name in Scotland. He reads the game well, is shrewd with the way he tackles and intercepts the ball in the tight areas, has shown immense maturity and considering his age, he is only likely to get better with time. Moreover, he is relatively quick as well and if Newcastle United are planning to construct a core team for themselves, Simunovic would certainly fit the bill.
The black and white crop have Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Chancel Mbemba and Grant Hanley to cater to their central defensive needs but frankly speaking, only the first two players have the calibre to cultivate a strong footing in the Premier League. Besides, adding someone like Simunovic would ensure that there lies adequate competition for a place in the starting line-up which would bring the best out of the defenders which Benitez would have next season.
